Writer of the Week: Guitarfreak86

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By Mark Ryan Salllee

The unheralded heroes of the gaming world, FAQ writers trade their late nights for bragging rights simply to say that their walkthroughs, their secrets, their perfect paths through what seem like impossible missions work best. And what rewards do these slaves to countless pixels and polygons seek or receive? The knowledge that their sleepless nights detailing every last hidden item help gamers in desperate need of completing 100% of every game.

But here at IGN, we say enough with the gushy feelings and e-mail "thank you's" being all these tireless and sometimes tortured gaming souls receive. That's why we started the FAQ Writer of the Week. Every week IGN will pick the person we see as the best FAQ writer going and reward them with a game off of his or her wish list. But that's not all. We also feel that it's important for gamers to get to know these writers, the very ones that have helped them out of so many jams in the past. That's why every week we'll also sit down and talk to the Writer of the Week so you can get to know the person, and not just their moves.

This week we interview Richard Arnatt, also know as Guitarfreak86. He's a diverse guy from a diverse country (the United Kingdom) and has stong opinions about Nintendo and the global sport known as "football". Without further ado, read what he has to say!

IGN: First of all, we're checking out your library of FAQs and we see a lot of soccer games. How long have you been a fan of soccer games, and does your love for the sport extend beyond just the video games?

Richard: Hehe, who didn't see that question coming?! I've loved football ("soccer" for you star-spangled types... lol) for as long as I can remember. As far as the sport's concerned, I'm obsessive! I watch it whenever there's televised coverage, and I'm relishing the UEFA European Championships that kick off in just a few days time! My team (England) are up against France, who are reigning champions, so it should be a mouth-watering ninety minutes!

... as for soccer games, I think my first experience of them was "GOAL!" on the Amiga ST. Man, I used to play that game for hours at a time against my uncle, and I used to get beaten horrendously each and every time. I guess the worm has turned now though; he doesn't get a look-in at goal when I take him on at any of the latest FIFA/Winning Eleven games!

IGN: It's a well-documented fact that us "star-spangled types" aren't as crazed about soccer as, well, pretty much the entire rest of the world. What is it that we're missing?

Richard: Well.. when I've been over your side of the pond, I dunno, it seems to be completely obsessed with statistics. You know, how many tackles, the number of yards run, etc. With soccer, it's just 22 guys, a ball and a goal at each end. I think the real problem with it's appeal in the U.S. is that many don't see the spectacle of buying a ticket, sitting down and quite often witnessing a goalless tie. When you watch the NBA, the scoreline often reaches into the hundreds of points, while a soccer game with more than 5 goals scored makes the National news.

IGN: Alright hombre, you have a link to your Live Journal on your board profile - you asked for it. Tell me about Rhian--does she play games?

Richard: Ouch! Yeah, Rhian and I have a lot of history together. I remember enjoying the occasional bout on NHL 2003 because she is a Hockey nut. It's been a while since we've played though, but I won't go into details.... *shuffles awkwardly*

IGN: Shall we dwell on your Live Journal entries, or would you like to move on?

Richard: Well, I doubt that my ex-girlfriend would relish being talked about, but you can ask me anything you like. To be honest, it's just a place to vent when everyone else over here is asleep. If something catches your eye, just bring it up, I'll just deflect any questions I don't wanna answer ;)

IGN: Completely different direction here - which region of the world do you think makes the best games: Europe, America, or Japan?

Richard: Well, that's a bit subjective, isn't it! :P I have to say that in my collection I have a good selection of games from all three regions. In terms of slickly-presented, "lifestyle" games, no-one can beat the zeitgeist that is EA. In particular, take a look at the amazing work they've released under their "EA Big" brand... SSX3 and NBA Street are two games that still feel fresh months after you thought you'd played them to death. True, they also made NFL Street, but everyone makes mistakes.

If, however, it's innovation you're after, Japan has to be your first port of call. Take games like Rez, ZoE and Sons Of Liberty. Japanese developers seem to have an unfaltering ability to make me go "how the hell did they do that THAT."

IGN: Having just come out of E3 2004, what got you most excited at this year's show?

Richard: You know, there wasn't really a "WOW!" moment for me like, say, the year they played the Sons of Liberty trailer. That was revolutionary in the true sense of the word. Nothing like it had ever been done before; taking an action game and giving it a proper movie-soundtrack. I remember seeing the scene where Snake is struggling through the waist-high water of the sinking ship... and I remember equally vividly how totally irate I was when I found out that it had been CUT!!

As for this year, it seems that all the major developers are shuffling about trying not to commit too much information about the next generation of consoles. Sony looks set to dominate the handheld market with the PlayStation Portable, although I'm shocked at the glaring omission of an analog controller. Anyone who played Tomb Raider on the N-Gage will surely have felt a nervous pang when noticing this detail.

As for the hype for games like Snake Eater, GT4 and San Andreas... well, that's your job, not mine... lol

IGN: Speaking of handhelds, when Nintendo first announced the Nintendo DS - which they had been hyping as some stellar secret - they boasted that the system would have two screens. Their only suggestion as far as how to use the two screens was with a soccer game, being able to view a slide tackle from two different angles. Since you play soccer games, did their proposal for Nintendo DS functionality sound remotely interesting?

Richard: I'm looking forward to seeing Nintendo's DS square up against the giants of consumer electronics, the dual-screened nature of the console could be decisive if it is implemented cleverly. People won't be impressed if it is solely a status panel, but using it for two different camera angles might be impressive. It will surely mean the graphics processor takes a big hit though, and quite frankly the only view you need of a soccer match is from the sidelines or a top-down perspective, a la Sensible Soccer.

Now if they could use the dual screens as a 3rd-person/first-person set-up for games like MGS or EA's Fight Night, that'd be interesting. Sadly, at this stage I can't see it being anything other than a flashy gimmick.

At the end of the day, console wars are always won by the quality of software available, not the hardware. Just look at the last epic battle between the two Oriental monoliths, the PSOne and Nintendo's 64 console. Nintendo had all the graphics, but no-one liked to programme for it.

IGN: If they put a soccer game on the DS that lets you view the action from two angles, would you you be willing to write an FAQ on it?

Richard: The only important aspect about a soccer game for me is whether it captures the feeling of slamming a ball into the other team's net and clinching a winner in the dying seconds of a cup final. Play Winning Eleven against some slightly inebriated friends and it just feels like the real thing. Despite EA's big-money licencing, it still seems very skeletal and robotic. The players run un-naturally and the ball just doesn't quite roll right. If Konami do a WE game on the DS, I'll buy it regardless of what they do with the other screen... it could be a rolling advert for all I care!

IGN: Alright, final question. Earlier in the interview you mentioned Zone of the Enders - huge bonus points. But then we checked your IGN collection list and saw that you rated Vice City a 10 - huge minus points. To break the struggle of good and evil, tell us if you have played Zone of the Enders 2: The 2nd Runner before?

Richard: I am ashamed to say this, but somehow or another I never got around to it! It didn't seem to make any ripples in the UK games media "pond". I really loved the manga stylings of the original, but ZOE2 was a transaction too far. I guess that settles it then, to the fiery pits of the abyss I shall descend. Just let me have my free games before I go... haha!

Want to check out Richard's intensely detailed Pro Evolution Soccer and Winning Eleven FAQs? You know you want to, so let your inner hooligan loose and check out all his FAQs right here on Guitarfreak86's User Page.